Crucible



Nov. 16, 1937.

IR. WICKLEIN CRUCIBLE Filed Aug. 3, 1936 Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to crucibles, and it relates more particularly to the provision in crucibles used by foundrymen and the like of an improved conformation of the Crucible, whereby the 5 pouring of the molten metal will be greatly facilitated, and the useful life of the Crucible considerably extended. Y

Heretofore it has been customary to cut, in the rim of Crucibles used for melting metals,

small indentationsfor theV purpose of guiding the molten metal as it is poured from the interior of the crucibles. These indentations were sometimes formed in the rim of the Crucible at the time of the manufacture, but more often were cut by the foundrymen, but in any event, the cutting of such an indentation in the rim serves to weaken the Crucible at the place where the most wear occurs by reason of the scouring action of the molten metal as it is being poured.

Crucibles so formed have not proved entirely satisfactory, and failure of the Crucible usually occurs rst at the weakened part of the rim resulting from the cutting of such indentations as are hereinbefore referred to.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a Crucible for melting metals and the like which will be of such improved Conformation that the pouring of the molten metal therefrom will be greatly facilitated, and, by

reasonrof said improved conformation, the Crucibles may be used for a considerably greater number of heats before it becomes necessary to discard them.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a crucible embodying the main features of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a top or plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawing, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, the

Crucible is, in the main, of the usual bilge shape and may be made of any of the refractory materials customarily used for the making of crucibles.

On one side of the Crucible, extending downwardly from the rim I0 to the bilge II, the wall is shaped outwardly, asat I2, to provide an interior channel I3 extending from the bilge to the rim. The channel I3 has its surface concaved transversely, as at I4, from which the sides extend in sweeping reverse curvature, as at I5,

to the interior surface of the Crucible proper, and the wall of said channel preferably projects outwardly a sumcient distance to bring the termination of the channel I3 beyond the outer line of the main rim portion I0.

It should be particularly noted that the Channel extends tangentially from the bilge portion of the Crucible, which greatly enhances the smooth flow of the molten metal as it is being poured. l0

It should also be noted that where the pouring channel is formed, the walls may be made of the same thickness as that of the main side walls of the Crucible.

It has been found in practice that a Crucible 15 shaped as aforesaid enables the user to pour the molten metal with greater facility, permitting him to guide the same more easily and to the proper point, and it has been also found that crucibles constructed in this manner will outlast 20 crucibles of the ordinary type more than fifty per Cent in the number of heats to which the Crucible is subjected.

I claim:

1. A Crucible having the wall thereof Curved 25 from the rim portion to the bottom with the widest portion approximately midway therebetween and provided on one side wall thereof with an outwardly projecting pouring channel extending in a substantially straight line tangential to the curvature of the side wall.

2. A Crucible having the wall thereof curved from the rim portion to the bottom and provided on one side wall thereof with a pouring channel having a portion extending to the side wall from 3" a point beyond the outer line of the main rim portion in a substantially straight line and tangential to the curvature of the side wall.

3. A Crucible having the wall thereof curved between the rim portion and the bottom with the widest portion approximately midway therebetween and provided on one side wall thereof interiorly with a pouring channel having a portion extending from a point beyond the outer line of the main rim portion in a substantially straight line and tangential to the curvature of the side wall.

4. A crucible having the side wall curved from the top rim to the bottom and provided on one 50 side wall thereof interiorly with a pouring channel extending -frorn a point beyond the outer line of the main rim portion tangentially to the curved side wall and the wall of the channel portion being of at least the same thickness as that 55 of the main side Walls, the Wall of the channel portion also extending in a straight line.

5. A Crucible having the wall thereof curved between the top rim and the bottom and provided on one side Wall thereof interiorly with a pouring channel extending from a point beyond the outer line of the main rim portion in a straight line and tangentially to said curved Wall, said channel being concaved transversely and having its sides extending in reverse curvature to the main interior surface of the Crucible, and the Wall of the channel portion being of at least the same thickness as'that of the main side 5 Walls.

RAYMOND R. WICKLEIN. 

